Usually when we see books about video games, its an after thought, but Rockstar is totally doing the opposite.  They are releasing a series of short stories soon after the game is released later this month.  Its a different approach to a rising genre of video game related novels.

New York, NY – May 3, 2011 – Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), in conjunction with Mulholland Books, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company, has partnered with notable authors of the thriller genre to publish a series of short stories, some of which are based on characters and cases from the world of L.A. Noire. “L.A. Noire: The Collected Stories” will be available for digital download on June 6, 2011 through all major eBook retailers.
“L.A. Noire draws on a rich history of not just film, but also great crime literature for inspiration,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Using the game’s world as a springboard, we worked with the genre’s best writers to create stories that lived up to the finest traditions of crime fiction.”

“We are thrilled to be embarking on a creative partnership with the team at Rockstar Games,” said Michael Pietsch, Publisher of Little, Brown and Company. “The possibilities for cross-promotions of this nature, encouraging gamers to read and readers to play games are huge. We’re looking forward to a new frontier of book publishing possibilities and see Rockstar as an ideal partner.”

Authors with stories in the anthology include such renowned writers as Megan Abbott, Lawrence Block, Joe Lansdale, Joyce Carol Oates, Francine Prose, Jonathan Santlofer, Duane Swierczynski and Andrew Vachss. 1940s Hollywood, murder, deception and mystery take center stage as readers reintroduce themselves to characters seen in L.A. Noire. Explore the lives of actresses desperate for the Hollywood spotlight; heroes turned defeated men; and classic Noir villains. Readers will come across not only familiar faces, but familiar cases from the game that take on a new spin to tell the tales of emotionally torn protagonists, depraved schemers and their ill-fated victims.

Select stories will be available across various media outlets prior to the launch of L.A. Noire on May 17, 2011 in North America and May 20, 2011 in Europe. An excerpt from “The Girl” by Megan Abbott is now available for readers at www.rockstargames.com.